​​​What is the Accessibility For Ontarians with Disabilities Act?

The Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act (AODA) is new provincial legislation that received Royal Assent in June 2005. The intent of this legislation is to make Ontario fully accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.

The scope of the AODA includes the development of standards in consultation with persons with disabilities for the private sector as well as government and the broader public sector. A Standards Advisory Council has been established and is involved in the process of establishing Standards Development Committees.

Legal obligations under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act will remain in force until such time as the Standards Development Committees have been established and the standards identified.

What is the Ontarians with Disabilities Act?

The Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) is provincial legislation requiring the province and municipalities to address the issues around and barriers to accessibility. A key part of the legislation is for each Ontario municipality with a population of over 10,000 to prepare and publish a Municipal Accessibility Plan (MAP) in consultation with people with disabilities.

What is a Municipal Accessibility Plan?

A Municipal Accessibility Plan is prepared annually and includes:

Measures taken to identify, remove and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities;

Measures ensuring proposals for bylaws, programs, practices and services are considered for their effect on accessibility;

Creating a list of by-laws, policies, programs, practices and services that will be reviewed in the next year to identify, prevent and remove barriers.

Since its inception in December 2002, the Aurora Accessibility Committee has worked with Town staff to produce the Accessibility Plan as required by the legislation. The plan, which is updated each year, includes a comprehensive review of general municipal accessibility practices including progress to date and plans for the coming year.​